Improvement in artificial legs



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. e

JOSHUA MONROE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN ARTIFICIAL LEGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 4 1,934, (lated March 15, 1864.

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA MONROE, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Limbs; and'I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this speciiication, in Which- Figure l represents a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding'parts in the two figures.

This invention relates particularly to an improvement in the mode of securing arti- .iicial limbs to the stumps remaining from the natural limbs.

The invention consists in the use of one or more rollers in the bottom of the cup intended to receive the stump, in combination with a strap secured to the covering of the stump and under its center in such manner that by placing the stump over the mouth of the cup, passing the strap through under the roller at the bottom of said cup and pulling it, said stump is drawn down into the cup entirely by the strain exerted by the strap on the covering, and, consequently, the slipping back of said covering and of the iiesh under it is effectually prevented. v

V The invention consists, further, in a Wooden disk, combined with the canvas covering of the stump and with the strap used for pulling the stump into the cup in such a manner that by inserting a staple into said disk a firm connection can be eftectedbetween the strap and covering, and by straining the strap the end of the stump and the bone protruding from the same is entirely relieved from pressure.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, l will proceed to describe it.

A represents the cup of an artificial limb, made according to any of the well-known constructions, either of Wood or of metal, or of any other suitable material. This cup is provided with a small roller, e, close down to its bottom, and a strap, b, which passes round this roller and out over the top edge of the cup, serves to draw the stump down into the cup.

The stump is protected by a covering, c, I

made of canvas or other suitable material, which is secured to the body of the patient by a vest, d, and suspenders e, or in any other suitable and convenient manner. The lower edge of the covering is gathered up and down over a disk, f, of Wood or any other suitable rigid material, the upper surface of which is slightly hollowed out, so that it will accommodate itself to the end of the stump. A staple or loop, g, or any other suitable device, inserted into t-he under surface of this disk, serves to afford a firm hold to the strap b.

On pulling the strap the stump is pulled into the cup, instead of forcing the cup over the end of the stump, as usual. The strain exerted by the strap b on the disk f causes the covering c to stretch, and by these means said covering and the flesh under it are effectually prevented from slipping back.

In order to prevent the strap crowding up against the edge of the stump, au additional roller may be placed close to the side of the cup, so that said strap, in passing from the roller a, will first pass under this additional vroller and up close on the inside of the cup.

The strain of the strap may also be made yielding by an elastic compensator, h, with a loop through which the stra-p is drawn before itis iinally fastened to the buckle i. This compensator is secured yto the covering c in front of the leg, and in such a position that the saine does not interfere with the operation of dra-Wing the stump down into the cup, and that the strap can be conveniently drawn through the loop at its end.

By the aid of my invention artilioial limbs can be secured to stumps of any shape or length. When once properly secured, the cup of the artificial limb cannot spontaneously come off from the stump, and by the use of my fastening all pressure or stra-in on the stump is avoided and the use of the artificial limb is rendered much easier for the patient than it is with fastenings of the usual con. struction.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure 2. The disk Larrzmged in combination with by Letters Patent, sthe covering c of the stump, and with the l. The roller a, or its equivalent, appied to strap b and cup A, substantially as and for the interior of the cup A of 2m artificial limb, the purpose specified.

in combination with a strap, b, secured to the p covering of the stump, substantially in the Witnesses: Ina-nner and for the purpose heroin shown THOS. S. J. DOUGLAS,

and described.

JOSHUA MONROE.

GEO. W. REED. 

